Parkway return to winning ways at Bolitho
Written by Graham Lloyd
Images by Tom Finnie
4 - Plymouth Parkway (Palfrey 21, Bath 26, Williams 67, Landricombe 78) 1 - Barnstaple Town (Baker 90+5)
Playing their first home game since 12 February. Parkway faced bottom side Barnstaple Town in a rearranged fixture postponed from New Year’s Day. Two changes were made from Saturday’s victory at Sholing with Tom Bath replacing Adam Carter and Gabby Rogers starting in place of the injured Jack Crago,
Barnstaple started at a high tempo creating a good chance on 4 minutes. Good work on the left by Ryan Turner saw him cross to Phil Ormrod who did well to turn past his marker and shoot from around 12 yards forcing a fine save from Kyle Moore. With Parkway struggling to retain possession, Barnstaple continued to threaten and on 11 minutes forced a couple of corners which Moore under pressure did well to punch clear. After withstanding the early Barnstaple pressure and defending solidly, Parkway gradually got into the game and began to gain control of the midfield area with Matt Andrew, Ethan Mitchell and Billy Palfrey displaying good energy and application. With Mikey Williams and Rogers looking to exploit the wide areas supported by Finley Craske and Ryan Lane, Parkway’s passing game and fluidity began to pay dividends and they took the lead on 21 minutes. A neat passage of play through the midfield area saw the ball find Palfrey who added to his collection of spectacular goals by rifling a rasping left footed drive from around 25 yards past a despairing Lloyd Irish in the visitor’s goal. Barnstaple continued to compete well and on 23 minutes a cross from the right from Callum Laird found Ormrod who blazed well over from around 18 yards.
Parkway, showing a high work rate and tenacity in midfield, almost increased their lead on 25 minutes. A strong run from Lane along the left flank saw his well-directed cross to the near post pushed narrowly wide by Williams. In their next attack Parkway did double their lead. A perfectly weighted through ball from Andrew released Williams who went clear and Tom Bath, showing good movement and anticipation, glanced home a close range effort off the near post. Parkway continued to prompt and probe as they dominated possession forcing Barnstaple to defend deeper and restricting them to a couple of long range efforts which failed to test Moore. Another flowing Parkway move on 31 minutes ended with a Rogers looping header flying narrowly wide. Parkway’s high pressing game and closing down in midfield continued to thwart Barnstaple and on 38 minutes more good work on the left by Williams saw his cross headed just over by the industrious Bath. Barnstaple continued to defend well but began to get overrun in midfield with the Parkway defence looking solid and compact dealing comfortably with the occasional Barnstaple attack. On 39 minutes another Palfrey effort was well blocked by Irish as Parkway continued to create chances and ended the half in control and looking relatively comfortable.
Parkway quickly picked up the pace in the second half continuing to pass and move fluently with Barnstaple being stretched but managing to restrict the hosts to a couple of half chances. Barnstaple replaced Ryan Keates with Harry Baker on 55 minutes as Parkway continued to dominate play. A corner on 57 minutes saw an on target Michael Landricombe header punched away by Irish as Parkway continued to threaten. On 59 minutes the combative Mitchell won a header which released Bath who got beyond the last defender only to be denied by a solid block from Irish. Barnstaple did manage to break clear around the hour mark with an Ormrod shot being deflected for a corner which was stoutly defended.
On 64 minutes Carter replaced the hard working Bath who had put in a good shift, scored a goal and on another day might have had a couple more. Billy Tucker replaced Turner for the visitors at the same time. On 66 minutes a Parkway break along the left created a chance for Mitchell who shot wide from around 25 yards. Parkway’s persistence and dominance paid off on 67 minutes when they increased their lead. Good link up play along the left saw Carter turn well close to the bye line and square the ball to Williams who finished smartly with an angled shot into the bottom corner. Barnstaple were being forced to play on the counter and on 69 minutes a neat turn by Ormrod saw his shot pushed behind by Moore at full stretch. Another flowing Parkway move on 72 minutes involving Williams, Mitchell and Craske saw the latter’s dangerous low cross into the 6 yard area just evade Carter sliding in at the far post. Parkway continued to show good energy levels and work rate denying the visitors time and space in midfield as they remained in control.
Callum Hall replaced the ever reliable Andrew on 72 minutes and almost made an immediate impact as on 75 minutes he was narrowly beaten by the onrushing Irish to a well flighted through ball. 77 minutes saw the game’s first yellow card with Oliver Haste being cautioned for a challenge on Williams. On 78 minutes Parkway increased their lead further with a Carter header from a corner not being cleared with the loose ball finding Landricombe at the back post who looped his header across the goal into the opposite corner. Parkway made their final change on 79 minutes with Harrison Davis replacing the effervescent Williams. The visitor’s Jake Mawford then saw yellow on 81 minutes as Parkway continued to apply pressure with a neat interchange between Mitchell and Carter setting up Rogers who shot narrowly wide. Barnstaple made their final substitution on 83 minutes with top scorer Owen Howe replacing Ormrod. On 85 minutes a swift exchange of passes between Davis, Craske and Carter along the right saw a dangerous cross fly beyond the far post. Billy Tucker then saw yellow on 88 minutes as Parkway looked to retain possession and manage the game out.
On 94 minutes a rare lapse of concentration saw Parkway lose possession in midfield allowing the visitors to break free with Moore pushing Howe’s snapshot behind. Parkway failed to deal with the corner and a scramble in the 6 yard area saw Baker bundle the ball home from close range for literally the last kick of the game with the referee calling time immediately and not restarting the game from the centre spot.
After an edgy first 15 minutes Parkway, showing good energy and fitness levels, gained control of the game, were tenacious in midfield, solid in defence and managed to create and convert enough chances to run out comfortable winners with an impressive all round performance. They will however be disappointed to concede such a late goal to deny themselves a third consecutive clean sheet.
The win sees Parkway climb above Sholing into 6th place still with games in hand over all sides above them. Weather permitting they return to Bolitho Park on Saturday when Highworth Town are the visitors in a rearranged fixture. Having beaten Highworth away in the FA Trophy and League with late winners in both games, another close encounter is envisaged as Parkway look to consolidate their league position.
Line ups:
Parkway: 1 Moore, 2 Craske, 3 Lane, 4 Mitchell, 5 Rose, 6 Landricombe ©, 7 Williams (Davis 79), 8 Palfrey, 9 Bath (Carter 64), 10 Andrew (Hall 72), 11 Rogers
Substitutes: 12 Davis, 14 Hall, 16 Bentley (unused), 20 Carter
Barnstaple: 1 Irish, 2 Laird, 3 Haste, 4 Mitchell, 5 Doe, 6 Hill, 7 Hewitt, 8 Keates (Baker 55), 9 Ormrod (Howe 82), 10 Mawford, 11 Turner © (Tucker 64)
Substitutes: 12 Lilley (unused), 14 Baker, 15 Howe, 16 Montague (unused) 17 Tucker
Parkway Partners
